Optical Absorption and Fluorescence of a Multi-walled Nanotube-Polymer Composite

We report on the optical studies of an organic composite containing an unusual phenylene vinylene copolymer and multi-walled carbon nanotubes in solution. The nanotubes appear to be held in the polymer matrix through a weak interaction between the backbone of the polymer and the lattice of the nanotube. This incorporation greatly effects the absorption and emission properties of the composite. We have also shown that it is possible to control the quantum efficiency of the system by varying the mass fraction of the nanotubes present.